The Showman Activity
Badge offers a choice of puppetry, music, or drama. A WEBELOS can pick the
area that suits him best. Showman Activity Badge is in the Mental Skills
group.

Objectives –

üTo instill
an appreciation of the fine arts To expose boys to entertainment profession

üTo expand
the imagination and creativity of WEBELOS

üTo increase
boys' self-confidence in front of audiences

The Showman activity
badge has something for every Webelos scout. For the natural actor there is
drama, for the shy boy there is puppetry, and for every boy there is music.
The aim of the badge is not to produce skilled entertainers, but to expose
boys to theater and to music arts, to help them build self-confidence, and of
course, to have fun. Everyone loves a show and most all boys have a generous
chunk of ham in them and want nothing better than a chance to let it out. If
you don't give them a chance under controlled conditions, they will take it
when you least expect they want it.

The Showman activity
badge gives them a chance to let out the hidden barely Shakespeare, Jerry
Lewis, Leonard the Great or what ever happens to be their style. It allows
them to express themselves musically be it kazoo or Steinway. Providing
the entertainment for the pack meeting will be a challenge gladly met by
Webelos Scout boys and the sillier the better! The badge covers most of the
field of entertainment and acquaints the boys with ways of putting on various
shows or skits. Making the props also can be used as part of the Craftsman
badge. Every conscientious leader of boys is working to further develop the
whole boy- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally so he will be
prepared to take his place as a well-adjusted member of his social group.
The Showman badge offers the opportunity for a boy to develop his
creativity and broaden his base of aptitudes.

The Showman activity
badge has something for every boy. For the natural actor, there's drama; for
the shy boy, there's puppetry; and for almost every boy, there's music. To
earn this badge, the boys need to complete 4 requirements in one of the three
areas. The aim of the badge is not to produce skilled entertainers, but to
expose the boys to theater and music arts, to help them build self-confidence,
and of course to have fun. This badge offers boys the chance to develop their
natural abilities. This badge is a natural outlet for becoming comfortable
with performing skits for others at den and pack meetings.

Games

Movie Star Walk

This is best done in a
large building with many obstacles. Divide the group into teams of six to
eight people and tie them together at the wrist to form a "chain." Use long
balls of colored string or yarn to layout a course. Have each team follow
their colored yarn wherever it goes without breaking their chain or the yarn.
The first team with their yarn completely rolled up and their chain not
unbroken wins.

Acting

After discussing how
things feel, everyone pantomimes an emotional reaction to feeling something
and the others try to guess what he is feeling. Examples: Holding a snake,
picking a prickly plant, hot sand on bare feet, something sticky.

Show Biz Buzz

Choose a number that the
players cannot say aloud. For example choose number 5. Start off counting
around the circle. When the counting reaches any number that includes a 5 or a
multiple of 5, that player must name a television show instead of the number.
Counting should be rapid. When a boy can't think of a show, he is out. No show
can be repeated. Start off with an easy number like 5. When they become good
at it choose other numbers. You may want to change categories as well. How
about movies, musical stars, musical instruments?

Den Meeting Activities:

·Invite a
drama coach to discuss stage directions and what they mean

·Invite a
clown or makeup artist to demonstrate makeup for the boys

·Learn how
to make sound effects for plays and skits

·Tape record
the boys to show how different they sound on tape from what they are used to

·Let the
boys create their own skits to perform in the den or at a pack meeting

·Video tape
a play that the boys create, act in, and make costume for

·Design a
puppet stage out of cardboard boxes

·Let them
try their hand at making different types of puppets for plays

·Set up a
shadow puppet screen for a play

·Ask the
band director to show the boys the different instruments in the band

·Make
homemade instruments for a den "band"

·Have a den
meeting where the boys bring in their favorite music to listen to

·Perform a
song with the den "band"

·Go to a
play, recital, or concert

·Visit a
rehearsal of a local play

·Visit a TV
station or a recording studio

Costumes

Mustaches

There is probably no
other disguise that can change a person's appearance so quickly as a fine
mustache. Behind a mustache you can be anybody- politician, detective,
television star, or even the bearded circus lady. Dressing up is great fun,
and every child should have a special drawer or box of old shoes, out-of-style
hats, dresses, jewelry-and mustaches. Actually, a mustache can be the whole
costume, as most of the time you really don't need an elaborate disguise.
Still, if you think that the mustache alone isn't convincing, a large bath
towel and a few safety pins can help round out your image. It's so fun to
imitate life-being the "baddy" with a pencil-thin mustache curled up at the
end, or maybe the "goody" with a big floppy mustache. You won't really feel
the magic of your mustache disguise until you see yourself in a mirror!

Constructions

Use heavy paper to make
your mustache. If you want, you can glue yarn, fuzzy fabric,
etc. to your paper mustache. The mustaches shown here are examples. You
can copy them or make up your own. It's easy to invent a mustache. Draw the
mustache pattern on a sheet of heavy paper like posterboard or file folder.
Cut out the mustache, and try it on for size. Be sure to make the two little
hook cutouts that attach to your nose. Experiment until you get the hooks just
right so the mustache will stay in place. That's all there is to it. Now why
not have a mustache party or maybe a mustache day?

Marionettes

In America, puppets
brought theater to many folks. If they lived too far from the theater, they
could take advantage of the puppet show. Help your boys recall the theater,
and express themselves by making puppets. They can be made from empty spools,
craft sticks, string, or whatever you have handy.

Thaumatropes By Barb Stephens A
thaumatrope is a card with different designs on each side which, when the card
is twirled , blend into one.

Create one or both of
these nature thaumatropes. Enlarge graphics to desired size.

Cut out a pair of
pictures. You can make then square or circular.

If you cut out square
shapes, glue them both right-side-up on opposite sides of a pencil or straw.
Place the pencil between your palms and rub your palms in opposite directions,
back and forth.

If you cut out circular
shapes, place one upside-down behind the other. Then poke a tiny hole on the
sides of both papers and tie a string (about 6" each) into each hole. Now
twirl the string so it gets cork-screwed. Then alternately relax the pull and
tighten the pull on the string so it rotate

Shoulder Strap Stage

Materials:

Corrugated cardboard

Velvet to cover cardboard

Velvet or other material
for straps

Cover cardboard with velvet.

Attach straps to cardboard and adjust size to fit person.

Curtain may be hung in front of velvet cover box if desired.

Puppets are manipulated through the holes.

Shape cardboard to
desired size according to illustration. Cut holes in cardboard for arms.

Make Up

Homemade Make-Up Recipes

White Greasepaint-

2
tsp. of white shortening

5
tsp. of corn starch

1
tsp, of white flour

A few drops of glycerin

The ingredients can be
mixed easily with a spatula. Store in a tightly covered container. To apply,
start by cleansing face with cold cream or another cream cleanser. Then start
spreading grease paint on face with finger tips. You want it thick enough to
color the face but not so thick that the greasepaint cracks when you move the
facial muscles. If it seems too dry to spread evenly, add a few drops of
glycerin and mix well.

Brown Greasepaint –

1
tsp. of white shortening

24
tsp. of unsweetened Cocoa

5
tsp. of corn starch

1
tsp. of white flour

A few drops of glycerin

Mix the same as for white
greasepaint, You may need a little extra glycerin in this greasepaint because
of the added ingredient. Remove with baby oil.

Translucent Colored Make-Up –

In a small container, mix
some liquid cleanser with powdered sugar, till desired thickness. Add food
coloring to desired color. Make-up should be about the consistency of cold
cream, so add powdered sugar till then. This-make-up can be applied with the
fingers, but a more even coverage is achieved by using a small make-up sponge.
This make-up allows the natural skin tons to be tinted, rather than totally
covered up. It will wipe right off with tissues, or can be removed with baby
oil, as most make-ups are. Again... this make-up, as well as most others,
works best when applied to a thoroughly cleansed face that has been tissued
dry.

White Face –

Thoroughly cleanse face,
then apply a thin layer of cleansing lotion or cold cream over areas to be
made up. Dab a clean cotton ball into white cake eye shadow and pat on face.
Try to cover face as evenly as possible with as many layers of powder as you
need to get the desired effect.

Black Outlines –

Black cake eyeliner works
the best for most striking black details and dramatic outlining. Especially
for clown make-up, large mouth areas and other details should be outlined in
black first, and then colored in with the desired colors.

Indian Faces –

Rather than using the
very dark greasepaint for Indians, use a cosmetic cream or cake foundation
just darker than natural skin color. Leave areas to be colored free of
foundation, so the colors will show up better.

Sound EffectsWest
Michigan Shores Council

Sound can include three separate things: voice, sound effects and music. The
primary concern is that the audience is able to hear the show clearly. For
beginners a narrator can stand in front of the stage and “tell” the story to
the audience. Have the boys speak their lines loudly and project their voices
past the stage area. This takes practice.

Both
sound effects and special effects will add another dimension to the play. Be
creative, but keep effect subtle. Do not overuse any one effect. Match the
appropriate sound to your needs and situation. Timing is important.

üWhistles,
horns, clocks rattles and musical instruments add interesting sounds to a
puppet show. You can also use a record player, or tape recorder.

üYou can
make lots of sounds with a kazoo.

üMake
bubbling sounds by blowing through a straw into a cup of water.

üTo make a
tremendous crash, drop a pan full of metal lids.

üHit 2 cups
on a tabletop to make sounds like a horse.

üUse a cap
gun for a loud bang.

üRolling
dried peas in a pan can sound like rain.

üSlam 2
books together to make the sound of a door closing.

üShake and
squeeze a plastic bottle of baby powder to make a puff of smoke.

üIn a dark
room, use a flashlight to make lightening.

Webelos
Do Their BestWest
Michigan Shores Council

Cast: 7
Webelos Scouts, Leader

Props: Desk, 7
Chairs, 7 Sheets of paper, 7 pencils.

Setting: All
are seated and leader stands before them, passing out paper and pencil.

Leader: Boys,
before we begin, let’s review. What is a 7-letter word with 3 “U’s” in it?

Webelos #1:
Gee, I don’t know, but it must be unusual! (Puzzled look on face!)

Leader: If
April showers bring May Flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Webelos #2:
Pilgrims.

Leader: Can
anyone tell me what a comet is?

Webelos #3:
Yes, a star with a tail.

Leader: Very
Good!! Now, will someone name a comet?

Webelos #3: Er,
Er, Lassie?

Leader:
(Shaking head in dismay) Boys, you may begin on your papers.

Webelos #4: (Whispering
to Webelos #5) I made 100 yesterday at school. (Webelos #5 looks
surprised) 30 on math, 30 on reading and 40 on spelling!!

Leader: (To
Webelos #5)
Did you look at his paper? (Points to #4)

Webelos #5:
Why??

Leader: The
first 4 answers are the same but on the 5th answer he put “I don’t
know” and you put “Me neither.”

(To Webelos #6)
Why did you make such a low grade on this?

Webelos #6: It
must have been the room temperature.

Leader: Did
you find the questions hard?

Webelos #7: Oh
No!! Just the answers were hard!

Leader: After
having observed the den and looking at your papers, I think you have done your
best. I would like to award the Showman badge at the next pack meeting.
You’ve written a terrific skit.

Materials found in Baloo's
Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that
Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the
material.